Fruit-grading machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. CUNNINGHAM 86 R. G. SMITIL FRUIT GRADING MAGHINE.

No. 583 381. Patented June 8, 1897.

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2 Sheets--She'et 2.

{Nd Model.)

L. CUNN'INGHAM 85 R. Gr. SMITH. FRUIT GRADING MAGHINEL Patented June 8,1897.

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7 III] -wc is' &w %wa UNITED STATES PATENT- Orrice LUTHER CUNNINGIIAM,OF SAN J OS, AND ROBERT GUY SMITH, OF SARA- TOGA, OALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORSTO EDW'ARD LE QUESNE, OF SARATOGA, OALIFORNIA. i

FRUT-G RADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5835981, clated June 8,1897. Application filed November 20, 1896. Serial No. 612340. (Nomodel.)

To (all whom ?it may cowcrn: to the lower end of the screen-frames, asseen Be it known thatAve, LUTHER CUNNING- in Fig. II. At the highest endis provided a HAM, of San Jos, and ROBERT GUY SMITH, grated screen 26,through which pass leaves, of Saratoga, in the county of Santa Clara,stems, dust, or other waste matter of the kind State of California,citizens of the United that may be among the fruit. The screen- States,have invented certain new and useful frames 2 and 3 are supported on thetrun- Improvements in Fruit-Grading Machines, of nions 4 and the linksor levers 5, as shown in which the following is a specification. Figs.I, IV, and V. These links 5 are prefer- Our invention relates to anorganized ma ably made in sigmoidal form, as shown in IO chine andapparatns for automatically grad- Figs. I and V, to permit some fiexurein the ing or selecting green or dried fruit, accordpiane of movement,and are loosely supported ing to its size or dimensions. on the shafts6, that 'extend across the ma- Our improvements consist in double orchine and are held in the bearings '7, attached compound screen-:framesset one above the to the top rail S of the machine-frame 1. The I 5other, having a coincident but opposite re links 5 fit loosely on theshaft 6 so as to turn ciprocating movement; a lateral and a vertiandslide freely thereon, being made with an cal or jarring motion, allimparted by cams; oblong bore, as seen in Fig. V, to permit some also,in various accessory devices that will vertical movement of these linksand of the hereinafter be particularly explained in conscreen-'frames 2and 3, Suspended thereon. 20 ncction with the drawings accompanying andTo the bottom of the lower screen-france 3 we forming a part of thisspecification. attach can-yokes ll, (shown enlargedin Fig.

The objects of our invention are to provide VL) provided withdownward-projecting exwithin a given len gth and within one machinetensions 12 and 13, that em brace at each side double the usual lengthof screen-surface, so the cams 14, one of these extensions 13 being 2 5as to repeat the selecting or grading of the bent, as shown in Fig. IV,to insure engagefruit, to attain the various motions of screenment ofthe cams 14 on their upward stroke. frames by simple and inexpensivedevices, These cams 14 are fixed on a shaft 15 and are and to secure arapid and efficient performset obliquely thereto, as seen in Fig. IV, soance in grading or selecting the fruit. that when in rotation the yokes11 are' moved 30 Referring to the clrawings, Figure I is alongitudinally with respect to the screenside elevation of afruit-grdingmachine conframes 2 and 3, as indicated by dotted lines structedaccording to our invention. Fig. II in Fig. VI, also` from side to sideat each revois a plan view of the same machine. Fig. III lution of theshaft 15 because of the oblique is a transverse section on the line xxin Fig. position of the cams 14, causing a correspond- I. Fig. IV isanother transverse section on ing lateral motion of the screen-frame 3and the line y y in Fig. I. Fig. V is a side View also of thescreen-france 2, communicated to of one of the links on which thescreen-frames the latter by means of the links 5, which slide aresupported. Fig. VI is an enlarged side freely on the shafts 6 when atthe same time view of one of the cam-yokes that actuate the turningthereon. 0 screen-frames. In the center of the cam-yokes 11 we pro- 1 isthe main frame of the machine, prefervide downward-projecting lugs 16,that are ably made of Wood, in the form seen inFigs. engaged at the topby the cams 14 at each revo- I and II, having an inclined rail 8 at thetop, lution of the latter, giving an abrupt blow to which is attachedthe main Operating part-s and short upward movementof the screen- 45 ofthe machine. frames 2' and 3, which fall with a shock and 2 and 3 arecradles or screen-frames prothus loosen any fruit that may be lodged invided with bottoms formed of perforated the screens 25, also dislodgeany waste matplates or screens 25. The holes therein, ter in or on thegratin g 26. through'which the fruit passes, are of varied At theforward or fecding end of the ma- 50 diameter, increasin g in size fromthe higher chine we provide a chain or endless elevator zoo 17, passingaround the axes 21 22, driven by a pulley 22 and a band 23, connectingto a pulley 20 on the shaft 15.

To drive the machine, power is applied to the end 19 of the shaft 15 bym eans of a handcrank or otherwise, all movements being communicatedfrom this shaft.

In Operating the machine the fruit is placed in the bin 27 and iscarried up by the conveyer or elevator 17 and falls on the grated screen26, Where the meshes are small enough to permit the passage of leaves,stems, or dirt contained in the fruit, but not of the fruit itself,which by reason of the inclination and agitation of the screen-iframe 2passes on slowly over the perforated plates 25, most that is smallenough falling through the first plate and the remainder going on to thenext, and so on, down to the last screen, which has perforations largeenough to pass the largest fruit.

The fruit passing through the top screenframe 2 falls on the lowerscreen-frame 3, where a second selection or grading takes place. Theopposite screens 25 in the lower screen-frame 3 being one degree orgrade less than those above, the selection or grading is repeated. Sothe operation being double is more rapid, complete, and a greater amountof fruit can be treated in a given time than if but one screen-frame Wasemployed. Beneath the screen-frame 3 are placed bins or receptacles 28,into which the graded fruit falls, also a bin 29 to catch the Wastematerial passing through the grating 26.

Any of the fruit which by reason of abnormal size, or is flattened bycrushing, fails to pass through the screens goes 011 over them and intoa receptacle provided for that purpose.

The screens 25 are preferably made of sheet metal having circularperforations, as shown in Fig. II, but may be made of woven wire or inany other manner that Will permit the fruit to pass through inproportion to its size.

The screen-frames 2 and &having coincident and opposite reciprocatiugmovement longitudinally and being nearly balanced, do not producevbration common to the reciprocating elements of such machines and canbe operated Without producingvibration of the main frame or of abuilding in which the machine is operated.

Having thus described our invention and its objects, We claim- 1. In afruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames With graduated meshes or openings, the vibratin g linksconnecting the said frames, pivoted loosely at the center oncross-shafts, and means for imparting coincident lon gitudinal, verticaland lateral m otions to the said frames, substantially as specified.

2. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames, the vibratinglinks connecting the said frames, pivoted atthe Centers on oblon g bearings permitting of coincident longitudinal,vertical and lateral motion, and means for imparting to the said framesthe said motions, substantially as specified. r

3. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames With graduated openings, the vibratory links connectingthe said frames, pivoted at the centers on oblong bearings permitting ofvertical and lateral motion, cam-yokes on the lower screen-frame, cams14, and means for rotating said cams, Whereby rapid longitudinal andlateral reciprocating motions are imparted to the said screen-frames,substantially as specified.

4. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames with graduated openings, the vibrating links connectingthe said frames, pivoted at the centers on oblong bearings permitting ofvertical and lateral motion, cam-yokes ll, cams 14:, set eccentric oncross-shaft '1.5 and also inclined to the aXis of said cross-shaft, withmeans for rotatin g said cams, Whereby rapid longitudinal and lateralreciprocatin g motions are imparted to the said screen-frames,substantially as specified.

5. In a fruit-grading machine, the com bination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames With graduated openings, Vibrating links 5 pivoted to thesaid framesand having vertically-oblong central bearingson shaft Gpermitting of vertical and lateral motion, cam- IOO yokes 11, and cams14 set eccentric 011 crossshaft 15, and also inclined to the axis of thesaid shaft, driving-shaft 21, gear connections with cam-shaft 15, andendless-chain elevator 17, substantially as specified.

In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclinedscreen-frames with graduated openings, vibrating links 5 pivoted to thesaid frames and having vertically-oblong central bearings on shaft Gpernitting of vertical and lateral motion, camyokes 11, lugs 16, cams14; set eccentric on cross-shaft 15, and also inclined to the axis ofthe said shaft, driving-shaft 21, gear connections With cam shaft 15,endless-chain elevator l7, a series of graduated receptacles 28, and bin29, all substantially as specified.

In testimony Whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in thepresence of two witnesses.

L. CUNNINGHAM. ROBT. GUY SMITII.

lVitnesses:

W. S. CLAYTON, TESLEY PIEPER.

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